Stories From Tokyo-To

Chapter 21: Funky Plucker!!

It's been a few days since the cyber attack. Mew's been a ghost. Barely says a word, and when she does, it's always the same: "I'm fine." She's been packing up her stuff, moving it all back to her relatives' house. Every time I try to talk to her, it feels like I'm speaking through glass. She just nods, says she needs to focus, and that's it. I catch Benisu trying to cheer her up too, cracking jokes or offering to help, but she shuts him out just the same.

It's hard seeing her like this. The shed feels emptier without her usual energy. The place that used to feel like a haven now feels like a tomb.

Benisu and I exchange glances. We both know we can't keep letting this drag on. We've got to do something, anything, to feel like we're moving forward.

Masayoshi Kikuchi Technical School. It's a shot in the dark, but I knew that if the Noise Tanks were responsible, this is where we'll find them.

The school's on the far end of central Benten-Cho, tucked between the tall, gray walls of some industrial buildings. The place buzzes with activity, but we stick to the shadows. We don't need anyone seeing us snooping around here.

"Most of those Noise Tank geeks attend this place," I murmur to Benisu as we find a spot to hide, "If we're lucky, we might spot one."

The hours drag on. The school day finally ends, and we watch the students spill out in waves, laughing, shouting, carefree. But we're not looking for the ordinary. We're looking for something off.

We spent a couple of minuets trailing students from that school, slipping in and out of crowds, but most of our leads ended in disappointment.

The first group we followed seemed promising at first—three guys huddled together, talking about some new "gear." Benisu and I shared a look, thinking we'd struck gold, but after half an hour of tailing them, we ended up at a dull electronics store in some back alley. They were just normal kids, chatting about a new speaker system. Total waste of time.

Then there was this pair of girls with suspiciously large backpacks, laughing under their breath. We shadowed them for blocks, through narrow streets and busy intersections, thinking maybe they were hiding something important. Turns out they were just hoarding snacks, planning a secret rooftop picnic.

Frustration was creeping in. We had nothing—just false leads and wasted time.

We were just about ready to call it a day when we spotted them: the group of students who didn't quite fit. They were quieter, more deliberate in their steps. Benisu nudged me, and we traded glances. This time, something felt different. We followed at a distance, careful not to get too close, as they veered off from the main crowd. Their conversation drifted back to us, casual at first but growing more intense.

We hang back, following at a safe distance. They start talking, voices low but just loud enough for us to catch snippets. The one at the front, a cocky little punk, goes on about modding some game system—stuff I don't care about. But then his words shift, and he mentions a "new gift."

The second one, heavier, disinterested, just grumbles something about the difficulty of working with the gift. His voice is flat, no emotion, like he's just bored of the whole thing.

The third one's the opposite, practically bouncing with energy. He's hyping up the modder, but there's a nervous edge to his voice, like he's afraid of even talking about it in public.

Benisu leans in and whispers to me, "Hey! I've seen these guys before! When I first got to Tokyo-To they pressed me when I was on their turf. Not too sure since they're out of their usual uniforms, but those voices are identical. They're definitely Noise Tanks!"

We follow them quietly as they wind their way through the streets. Finally, they stop in front of an old, abandoned school. The place is covered in yellow tape and "Do Not Trespass" signs, but that doesn't stop them. They slip through a gap in the fence like it's nothing.

We crouched behind a rusted metal dumpster as I took in the building. It's rundown, the walls cracked and windows boarded up, but there's something off. There are cords snaking in through broken windows, and a low hum of electricity buzzes in the air.

"This has to be their HQ," I mutter. Benisu nods, his eyes narrowed. We can't just walk in. We need a plan.

Benisu glanced at me, his brow furrowed. "What's the play, Gum? We sneak in? Maybe under a cardboard box"

I considered it for a moment. We could try slipping in through one of the side entrances or windows, but the risk was huge. This place might be a dump, but if it really was their base, they'd have eyes everywhere. And the moment they spotted us? We'd be in deep trouble.

"Too risky," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "If we just waltz in, we're basically asking to get caught. They'll have security systems, cameras, maybe even trip alarms. These guys are tech-obsessed. They'll be prepared for intruders."

Benisu nodded, chewing on his lip. "Yeah, you're right. We need a way to get inside without them knowing... or at least, without all of them there."

A thought hit me, but I hesitated. "We could try to sneak in while they're distracted. But that's still risky. One wrong move, and we're screwed."

We sat in silence for a moment, both of us racking our brains. Then Benisu's face lit up. "What if we cut the power? No power, no security systems. They'll have to come out to see what's up."

I blinked at him. "And while they're dealing with the blackout..."

"We slip in unnoticed," he finished, grinning. "If we time it right, we could get in, get the 'beeper' and anything else from Mew they nabbed, maybe trash the place, then get out before they even realize what's going on."

It wasn't foolproof, but it was better than walking straight into their lair like sitting ducks. I glanced back at the building, the braids of cords feeding into the "brain". Cutting the power could work, but it would need to be fast, clean, and quiet.

"Alright," I said, nodding. "Let's find the power source and take it out. But we need to move quick—once it's down, they'll be on high alert. We'll have to be in and out before they can regroup."

Benisu grinned, the thrill of the plan sparking in his eyes. "Aw yeah! Let's show these dweebs how we roll!"

We both took a deep breath, then slipped around the side of the building, keeping low as we searched for a way to make our plan a reality.